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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 Community Relations U xs 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK K_\REEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK COMMUNITY RELATIONS FEBRUARY 25, 2019 4:03 P.M. (ORGANIZATIONAL) Committee Members Present: Regina Williams-Preston, Gavin Ferlic, John Voorde, Jo M. Broden, Eli Cantu (citizen member) Committee Members Absent: None Other Council Present: Jake Teshka, Karen White, Sharon L. McBride, Tim Scott Other Council Absent: Oliver Davis Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer Agenda: Organizational Meeting Committee Chair Regina Williams-Preston called to order the Organizational Meeting of the Community Relations Committee at 4:03 p.m. She introduced members of the Committee and proceeded with the meeting. Organizational Meeting Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, The Community Relations Committee oversees the activities of engagement, economic empowerment, neighborhood development, community resource teams within City departments, and facilitates partnerships and communications with other public and private entities. Some of that is new. Committee Chair Williams-Preston then opened the floor to Committee Members. Committeemember Eli Cantu stated, I am a Rum Village resident and am the Vice President of the Rum Village Association. I am also the President of RPTR at Jackson. So, those are two (2) non- profits I have experience with. Besides that, I've been working with the neighborhood for the past eight (8) or nine (9) years,just helping out the youth. That is kind of my background. Why I'm interested in this Committee is because this is kind of my core. Working with education and the neighborhoods, that is my passion. I'm very honored to be a part of this Committee. Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, Just, just backing up, part of the new definition or summary description of the Community Relations Committee includes working with the new division of Community Investment called Engagement and Economic Empowerment. Really, that whole division has come out of the advocacy work the Community Relations Committee had been doing. We had several housing forums, if you remember, out in the community to talk about the different issues. Out of that kind of came addressing issues of assisting homeowners with home INTEGRITY' SERVICE'ACCESSIBILITY JENNIFER M.COFFMAN BIANCA L.TIRADO JOSEPH R.MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Blvd.I South Bend,Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 I f 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK repair and things like that. Because of the light brought onto the issue, the department chose to actually create a division that is really focused on equity and looking at those issues. So, we will continue to work with that particular division to sort of move some of these things forward. These (referencing a copy of the 2018 Annual Report of the Community Relations Committee which is available in the City Clerk's Office) are the things we have been doing. As I mentioned, the housing. As, we had convened around reducing violence by building peace. So, we looked at partnering with peace keeping organizations as well as South Bend Schools around circles. There is currently a proposal being developed that will come before us. I imagine, at some point, we will think of how we can further that by connecting with schools and do more circles in the community. Again, the concept is in-reach. How can we prevent some of these issues before they escalate and get to a place of violence? So, that is a different approach. We have to work with the community to do our part and not just rely on police. She continued, The war on litter, jumping down to that, we are partnering with the NRC, Code Enforcement and the Department of Community Investment. That kind of dovetails with Love Your Block. So, we are looking at going into the communities and not just fixing up homes but also cleaning up the area with the residents. Coming up, we are looking toward, and we have the bill tonight,rental safety inspections. One(1) of the things we hope to do is to begin a partnership that includes tenants and having a tenant's rights organization. We also want to include homeowners, landlords and the City to see how we can work together and find proactive approaches to some of the issues we are having with unsafe housing conditions, all while trying to make sure things can remain affordable. She went on, One (1) of the bigger things I'll mention is with regards to education. We've done the Toys for Tots. So, the concept is using our relationships with the City to encourage people to donate toys that encourage early literacy in kids.Also,one(1)of the other things is the book series. We are partnering with the Brain Lair. If you're not familiar with that, it is the multi-cultural bookstore. That is an amazing resource. I think the nearest multi-cultural bookstore is in Kokomo. We have one(1)right here. So,that is exciting, and we are partnering with them to actually capture our stories of people in the community. She continued, Also, specifically with education, I had mentioned this before, but it is really something I think we definitely need to get on, given the state of our public school system right now, but we need to nail down the compact agreement. The Schools are writing up some stuff,but they really aren't sharing or communicating with the City too much about it. So, we are going to be looking at how to best work with the schools and actually solidify that partnership in that compact agreement. Also, we are going to do a little investigation on the Commission on Education. The landscape of education in South Bend is rapidly changing. We've had new charter schools come in as well as a new high school being proposed. Frankly,people are really confused. So, how can we as the City be a resource for everyone including, most specifically parents, to understand what is happening in terms of education. Committee Chair Williams-Preston then opened the floor to Committee and Council Members. Councilmember Tim Scott stated, I want to hit a couple things that were brought up here. One(1), the Committee is codified. So,the Committee is in Code and the description of what the Committee does is in the Code. So, for that to change, it would have to go through this Council and be voted on. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 I 10574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 2 •CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK Committee Chair Williams-Preston interjected, So, how did that change then? It just got put on there. I just read it. I didn't change it. Councilmember Scott stated, We have to look at that. Anyway, you have a lot of good points though. I love that story thing. What I am also seeing here is a lot of connection between Community Investment, Residential and Health and Public Safety Committees. Part of Community Relations is helping be that promotion to those other Committees as well. So, think about that. I might be wrong, but I heard some things in that description that wasn't in the original description that I heard when I came on Council. We have to make sure that is codified and agreed upon. City Clerk Kareemah Fowler stated, There were some changes that were made just because there were updates. There were things that didn't exist. So, a lot of the Committees have changes like that. Committeemember Jo M. Broden stated, I think I've mentioned this before, and maybe it is a joint meeting, but the more we can carve out lanes and be very intentional and focused on what we are tracking and initiating so that we build that level of expertise and accountability.And,touch points, right? If the public has this issue, this is where it is directed. It is really clear. So, I think there needs to be a lot of clarity follow-up. Councilmember White stated, I think we need to have a regular meeting to spend time looking at all the standing Committees. There is so much overlap and looking at it from the financial perspective, it touches all of the Committees. Committeemember Cantu stated, I agree with that because most of the citizens I know of have no idea where to go for certain problems. With no further discussion, Committee Chair Williams-Preston adjourned the Organizational Meeting of the Community Relations Committee at 4:14 p.m. Respectfully Submi ed, r VI( it--- Regi ` illiams-Preston, Committee Chair EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I I D574.235.5567 wvwa.southbendin.gov 3